Ludvika is a town of 14,000 people, and a municipality, in southern Dalarna.

Gorgeous autumn colours in Säfsen

Understand

During the 16th century the forest around Dalarna were still unoccupied. Immigrants from northern Finland began to occupy the woods. They survived on hunting, fishing and farming.

In the 1720s, ironworks were established in the villages of Strömsdal, Fredriksberg/Annefors, Ulriksberg and Tyfors. Sebastian Grave came to the district to establish his ironworks. He started the works in Gravendal. In 1830 it became the biggest iron producer together with the other works in Dalarna.

Most of the cottages were built in the 18th century and when the ironworks in the beginning of the 1900s turned into a wood industry. The coal and iron crofter became drivers and woodcutters.

A railway was built during the later part of 19th century to make it easier for the transportation of the iron and later the paperworks. Beginning in the 1940s many of the cottages were demolished or modernised. But some of them were renovated after an old style and can still be visited.

The iron works had finished and instead a paper industry was built in Fredriksberg that became the dominant employer in the parish till 1972. In 1898 a sulphite factory was built in Fredriksberg. Nearby, a sulphate factory started and in 1932 later the paper factory started.

During 1940s and 1950s the town of Fredriksberg blossomed, but eventually they shut down. The first ski-lift came in 1979 and was the start on the big venture on tourism and conference activity in the region. Säfsen Resort is now the principal reason for visiting the area. Säfsen, in eastern Fredriksberg, is dominated by Säfsen Resort AB, which operates the ski resort and is The major employer in the area, so much so that the whole Fredriksberg area is sometimes referred to as Säfsen.

Get in

By air

There are flights from Stockholm to Dala Airport in Borlänge (44 km from Ludvika or 86 km from Säfsen) and to the airport in Hagfors (114 km from Ludvika or 58 km from Säfsen).

Planes from Stockholm and Copenhagen land in Karlstad (171 km km from Ludvika or 120 km from Säfsen).

There are also regular flights from Stockholm, Malmö and Copenhagen to and from Örebro (117 km from Ludvika or 130 km from Säfsen)

By car

• From Stockholm: 217 km west along the E18 and northwest on Highway 66.
• From Västerås: 111 km northwest along Highway 66.
• From Gothenburg: 400 km north along E20 and Highway 50.

By train

• By SJ train from Västerås: 1hr40min at 06:15, 08:15, 10:15, 13:15, 15:15, 17:15, 19:15
• From Stockholm, it is about 4 hours.

By bus

• Swebus Express

Get around

To Säfsen Resort from Ludvika town:

• By car: 55 km west along Highways 66 and 245.
• By Dalatrafik bus from Ludvika Station (kr 30) (the bus stops outside the mainbuilding "Hyttan" where you will find the reception - the skiing area is about 2½ km from the holiday resort area):
  • at 08:20, take bus 294 to Gamla apoteket Sunnansjö, transfer to bus 297 to Säfsen - 1hr 28min
  • at 15:40, take bus 297 to Säfsen - 1hr 02min

Do

• Ludvika FK. Football club located in Ludvika. (updated Mar 2017)
• Östansbo IS. Football club in Ludvika. (updated Mar 2017)
• Säfsen Resort AB. An all year around outdoor activity destination on 400 ha of its own land. Säfsen offers 16 downhill ski runs and 6 lifts with easy and more advanced opportunities. There is a snow park designed by David Ny, who earlier did pipes for the winter Olympics and other world cup competitions. For tour- and cross-country skiing, there is 115 km (71½ miles) of track in beautiful nature landscapes. The tracks will be taken care of many times in the week. For the children there is theur own snow landscape, Filurland, where they can ski, and meet Filurus the moose and his friends. Ski schools and ice-fishing are also offered in the winter. In summer, there are 420 km (261 miles) of mountain bike trails, berry and mushroom picking, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, and paddling. Massage and spa-treatments, and café and bar facilities are available year round. (updated Mar 2017)

Eat

• 1 Restaurang Akropolis, Engelbrektsgatan 6, ☏ +46 240-198 00. A Greek restaurant. (updated May 2019)
• 2 Kajkrogen, Kajvägen 13, ☏ +46 240-91111. Located on a pier in lake Väsman. They serve traditional Swedish plain food, known as husmanskost. (updated May 2019)
• 3 Sushi Bar Kyoto, Fredsgatan 16A, ☏ +46 240-105 16. Ludvika's number one (well, and only) sushi bar! (updated May 2019)

Sleep

• 1 Best Western Grand Hotel Elektra, Eriksgatan 6, ☏ +46 240-182 20. (updated Nov 2016)
• 2 Ludvika Stadshotell, Carlavägen 7, ☏ +46 240-135 50. (updated Nov 2016)
• Säfsen Resort cottages, Säfsen. There are 1300 beds in cosy (some say "dated") timber cottages and conference abilities for up to 400 persons. Meals available. (updated Mar 2017)

Säfsen Resort